Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Observation - Discoveries Made Through It

It was through observation that
Maria Montessori, as a medical doctor and scientist, discovered many great and
previously unexplored facets of the child.

She discovered that basic construction occurs during the first six years of the
child’s life.

Children largely construct themselves; the adult can only provide the best
tools for the child to utilize.

The basic, core elements of the child’s culture are acquired during the
first plane of development.

The character
of the child cannot be formed by the adult.

She observed and labeled sensitive periods, the absorbent mind, and human tendencies.

She found that supposed discipline problems disappear with purposeful, concentrated,
freely chosen work that channels energy; energy is ever-present, but can
be channeled into constructive or destructive ends.

The child has a tremendous ability to concentrate.

Montessori discovered the concept of the normalized child, a concept not
found in other fields of early childhood education even a century later,
but that has been observed continuously since its first manifestations in
the earliest children’s houses.

She discovered the importance of a greater
emphasis on indirect preparation,
a concept only now just beginning to catch on in other child development
fields.

She discovered the child’s need for freedom to choose, to repeat and to
move, again concepts that are only partially catching on elsewhere.

Children love
silence.

Children have an intrinsic desire to learn; they do not need rewards of any
extrinsic sort.

The
child requires a natural scientist to discover him, one who will gather data
patiently and objectively, reflect on the information gathered and once
arriving at a conclusion will take the appropriate steps to act upon said
conclusion.